Penstemon plant named ‘YAPRUBY’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of interspecific  Penstemon  plant named ‘YAPRUBY’ that is characterized by its flowers that are ruby red with a white throat, its flowers that are outward facing and presented symmetrically on the flowering stem, its short flowering stems with short internode lengths, good basal branching resulting in repeat flowering and its seedpods that remain green for a long period and up to frost.

Botanical classification: Penstemon hybrid.

Cultivar designation: ‘YAPRUBY’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is co-pending with U.S. Plant Patent Applications filed for plants derived from the same breeding program that are entitled Penstemon Plant Named ‘YAPROSE’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 14/999,097) and Penstemon Plant Named ‘YAPMINE’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 14/999,098).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Penstemon plant of hybrid origin, botanically known as Penstemon ‘YAPRUBY’ and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘YAPRUBY’. The new cultivar represents a new herbaceous perennial grown for garden and container use.

The new invention arose from an ongoing controlled breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Congleton, Cheshire, United Kingdom with the main objectives of developing new cultivars of Penstemon with good basal branching, shorter branch internodes and long blooming periods.

‘YAPROSE’ was derived from a cross made in mid June of 2012 between unnamed and unpatented proprietary plants of Penstemon of hybrid origin from the Inventor's breeding program as both the female parent and male parent. ‘YAPROSE’ was selected in August of 2013 as a single unique plant from amongst the resulting seedlings. ‘YAPRUBY’ was selected in August of 2013 as a single unique plant from amongst the resulting seedlings.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by the Inventor by stem cuttings in 2013 in Congleton, Cheshire, United Kingdom. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘YAPRUBY’ as a unique cultivar of Penstemon.

-   -   1. ‘YAPRUBY’ exhibits flowers that are ruby red with a white         throat.     -   2. ‘YAPRUBY’ exhibits flowers that are outward facing and         presented symmetrically on the flowering stem.     -   3. ‘YAPRUBY’ exhibits short flowering stems with short internode         lengths.     -   4. ‘YAPRUBY’ exhibits good basal branching resulting in repeat         flowering.     -   5. ‘YAPRUBY’ exhibits seedpods that remain green for a long         period and up to frost.         The female parent of ‘YAPRUBY’ differs from ‘YAPRUBY’ in having         flowers that are held more downward and that are less         symmetrical on the flowering stem. The male parent of ‘YAPRUBY’         differs from ‘YAPRUBY’ in having a less compact plant habit.         ‘YAPRUBY’ can most closely be compared to its sibling cultivars         ‘YAPROSE’ and ‘YAMINE’. Both are similar to ‘YAPRUBY’ in growth         and flowering characteristics other than flower color. ‘YAPROSE’         differs from ‘YAPRUBY’ in having flowers that are more pink in         color with a white throat. ‘YAPMINE’ differs from ‘YAPRUBY’ in         having flowers that are more purple in color with a white         throat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Penstemon. The photographs were taken of a 4 month-old plant of ‘YAPROSE’ as grown in a 2-liter container in Gensingen, Germany.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of a plant of ‘YAPRUBY’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of an inflorescence of ‘YAPRUBY’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized and the color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new Penstemon.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of 6 month-old plants of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in 25-cm containers in Liss, Hampshire, United Kingdom. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—End of May through October in The United             Kingdom.         -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.         -   Plant habit.—Upright with compact flowering stems.         -   Height and spread.—An average of 40 cm in height and 30 cm             in spread.         -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zone 5.         -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to             diseases or pests has been observed.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous, NN155B in color. -   Growth and propagation:     -   -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings.         -   Time required for root development.—An average of two weeks             for root initiation about six weeks to produce a young             rooted plant.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate. -   Stem description:     -   -   Branch habit.—Continuously produced basal stems throughout             the growing season.         -   Stem size.—An average of 40 cm (including peduncle) in             length and 4 mm in diameter.         -   Stem shape.—Rounded.         -   Stem color.—144C.         -   Stem surface.—Glabrous but pubescent at apex with short             translucent simple hairs.         -   Stem aspect.—Held at an average angle of 45°.         -   Stem strength.—Strong.         -   Internode length.—2 to 3.5 cm (at center of stem). -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf size.—An average of 10 cm in length and 2.5 cm in             width.         -   Leaf quantity.—About 22 (11 pairs) per stem.         -   Leaf base.—Rounded and slightly auriculate.         -   Leaf apex.—Acuminate.         -   Leaf fragrance.—None.         -   Leaf color.—Upper surface; a color between 137C and 146B,             lower surface 138B.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate pattern, only mid rib is conspicuous,             color 144D on both surfaces.         -   Leaf margins.—Shallowly serrate.         -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile and clasping.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Leaf surface texture.—Glabrous on upper and lower surface. -   Flower description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal cyme.         -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 18 cm in length and 8 cm             in width.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—About 10 days, self-cleaning.         -   Flower size.—An average of 3.5 cm in depth and 3.9 cm in             diameter.         -   Flower fragrance.—None.         -   Flower number per inflorescence.—An average of 30 flowers.         -   Flower shape.—Broadly tubular.         -   Flower aspect.—Outward.         -   Flower buds.—Ovoid in shape, an average of 2.8 cm in length             and 1.1 cm in width, 59A in color, surface is glabrous.         -   Flower petals.—5, fused into tube with lobes free, lobes;             rounded in shape, margins entire and slightly wavy, obtuse             apex, an average of 1.25 cm in length and 1.7 cm in width,             slightly recurved, surface texture smooth on upper surface             and lower surface, a color between 58A and 60A on both             surfaces, tube; average of 3 cm in length and 1.5 cm in             width, color on inner surface 155A in color with markings             near base 71B, color on outer surface is 155A with markings             a color between 58A and 60A on sun exposed side and 59B on             shaded side.         -   Bracts.—2 per flower, elliptic to broadly elliptic in shape,             acuminate apex, rounded base, surface texture is pubescent             with short simple hairs 59B in color, an average of 2.5 cm             in length and 8 mm in width, 144A in color on both surfaces.         -   Sepals.—An average of 5, rotate, broadly ovate in shape,             entire margin, acute apex, fused at base, an average of 9 mm             in length and 8 mm in width, 187B in color when sun exposed             side, 144C to 144D in color when shaded, pubescent on both             surfaces with hairs 59A in color.         -   Calyx.—Rotate.         -   Peduncle.—Same characteristics as stem description,             inflorescence portion an average of 20 cm in length.         -   Pedicel.—Rounded in shape, an average of 3 mm in length and             1 mm in diameter, moderately strong in strength, 144C in             color, glabrous and smooth surface texture. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—1 Pistil, style; an average of 2.3 cm in length             and 1 mm in width, 71B in color and fading to 155B in color             at apex; stigma; club-shaped, 2 mm in length and 1 mm in             width, NN155A in color, ovary; narrow conical in shape,             superior, 5 mm in length and 3 mm in width, glabrous             surface, 144A in color.         -   Androecium.—4 stamens, (2 longer and 2 shorter), filament;             1.5 to 1.8 cm in length, 1 mm in width and 155B in color,             anther; an average of 3 mm in length and 1 mm in width, 187A             in color, pollen is moderate in quantity and NN155A in             color.         -   Fruit and seed.—Capsule; remains green (144A) throughout             growing season, seeds; few per capsule, ellipsoid in shape,             N199 in color, and 1.5 mm in length and >1 mm in width. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Penstemon plant named ‘YAPRUBY’ as herein illustrated and described. 